Deadly NHS Maternity Blunders Revealed

Maternity staff are making more than 1,400 mistakes in NHS wards every week, figures reveal.

The data reveals that midwives and nurses have recorded 305,019 errors over the course of the last three years, although the actual number is likely to be higher still.

Mistakes range from patient records being lost and low-level injuries at birth, to the preventable deaths of mothers and babies.

Figures show that at least 259 women or babies died between 2013 and 2016 due to avoidable or unexpected circumstances. The data comes from 81 out of 132 hospital trusts with maternity units, and was obtained by the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act.

Midwives claim mistakes are happening because safety is being compromised in understaffed units.

A spokesman for NHS Improvement, the body responsible for regulating hospitals, said:

"We are supporting trusts to improve safety within maternity units.

"This includes launching the maternal and neonatal health and safety collaborative, a three-year programme which aims to reduce the rates of maternal deaths, stillbirths, neonatal deaths and brain injuries that occur during or soon after birth by 20 per cent by 2020 and 50 per cent by 2030."

If your health has suffered to the mistakes or negligence of a healthcare professional, you may be entitled to compensation. Call our Stourport team in confidence on 0800 567 7272.

BLV Law

Medical Negligence Solicitors